Welcome to 2025 and our January Update. Within, a selection of tours running this year as well as a calendar of events stretching to November 2026.

It is not only the year that is ‘new’: we are delighted that you are browsing our new website, which gives you full details of every tour and event we organise, along with the ability to secure your place straightaway online. The stand-out feature for me is the ‘search’ function on the home page. You can type in any name, tour title, city, building, esoteric text, and it will give you a list of relevant holidays. I encourage you to put it to the test.

Also ‘new’ for 2025 is Handel in Malta, the latest addition to Martin Randall Festivals, taking place 21–27 November. We have an incredible line-up including The English Concert, Gabrieli Consort & Players, Solomon’s Knot, who perform just for our audience; six performances in six historic venues.

There are many ‘new’ tours to offer you as well, among them The Duero River: from Source to Sea. This is a masterful interweaving of architecture, history, landscape, food, wine, and the lesser-visited through Spain and Portugal. In Italy we introduce Trecento Frescoes a celebration of Giotto’s masterpieces and this extraordinary period of artistic achievement, and also, Great Palaces of Italy, a cleverly curated Grand Tour from Turin to Naples.

This is but a glimpse of our extensive, innovative and adventurous programme ahead. If you would like more information or opinion on anything mentioned, please just call us. We are always happy to speak on the phone and can post or e-mail information to you.

Meanwhile, allow me to add the ‘happy’ to the ‘new’ and wish you well for the coming ‘year’.

With best wishes,

Fiona Charrington
Chief Executive